Craig observing

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Learning from Problem Solving while Observing Worked Examples

Scotty Craig, Soniya Gadgil, Kurt VanLehn, and Micki Chi

Summary Table

PI Scotty Craig
Other Contributers Robert N. Shelby (USNA), Brett van de Sande (Pitt)
Study Start Date Sept. 1, 2006
Study End Date Aug. 31, 2007
LearnLab Site USNA
LearnLab Course Physics
Number of Students N = 64
Total Participant Hours 128 hrs.
DataShop Target date: April 30, 2007


Abstract

This research project investigated why students learn from collaboratively observing examples. Previous laboratory research has shown that learners who watch a video of a problem solving tutoring session while collaboratively solving the same problems with a partner learn significantly more than learners that watched the video and solved the problems alone (Chi, Hausmann, & Roy, in press). In this study, the robustness of this effect was tested in the Physics learnlab. Because Chi et al. also found that videos of competent tutees caused more learning in the observers than videos of less competent tutees, this experiment include a condition where observers viewed a video of worked examples, which is the extreme case of a problem being solved by a completely competent "student."

In the experimental conditions, students collaboratively observed videos on the principles of rotational kinematics. The videos showed either a tutoring session or worked examples. The tutoring videos showed an expert human tutor helping undergraduates solve problems. The worked examples video showed the expert tutor solving problems while orally describing the steps and reasoning. In the control condition, students viewed the worked examples video alone, without a collaborating peer. The same problems were shown in all videos. The Andes system was used throughtout the experiment both as the backdrop for the two sets of videos and by the students who solved Andes problems both during training and as transfer assesments. In summary, three conditions for the current study were: collaboratively observing tutoring, collaboratively observing worked examples, and individually observing worked examples.

Analyses have been conducted on immediate learning (Normal pretest/posttest, near transfer) and retention measures. No differences between groups were found for immediate learning. On Andes homework problems done days later (a retention and medium transfer measure), the pairs observing tutoring scored higher than the pairs observing worked examples and the solos observing worked examples.

Glossary

See Craig Observing tutoring Glossary

Research question

How is robust learning affected by collaboratively versus individually observing different types of worked examples?

Independent variables

The current study varied both number of observers and type of video observed. The multiple-observer variable consisted of two participants observing a video while problem solving or an individual participant watching a video while problem solving -- see collaboration. Information presentation format was used to manipulate the example type variable. Participants watched one of two videos. They either watched an expert worked example of Andes problem solving that provided the solution steps for Andes problems along with information on why the steps where needed. Alternatively, they watched a tutoring session where a human tutor worked with a tutee to help solve the Andes problems -- see vicarious learning. Since this study was conducted in the learnlab, the condition where an individual observed the tutoring session was eliminated because previous lab studies have not shown this contrast to be effective.

Hypothesis

A dialogue hypothesis for collaboratively observing while problem solving from worked examples is that viewing the expert tutoring session should produce more learning (normal or robust) than viewing a content equivalent condition of expert problem solving. However, an alternative (Content equivalence hypothesis) is that since the expert tutoring session and the expert worked example both provide good learning conditions with the same content they should both produce mastery of the material (Klahr & Nigam, 2004). Process data collected in this study will help to tease out these hypotheses.

Dependent variables

  • Transfer, immediate: After exposure to the treatment, students completed three transfer problems in Andes. These problems will test the same concepts from training in new situations that require implementation of the problems in new ways.
  • Normal post-test: Students were given a 12 item multiple choice pretest and posttest that taps into their ability to apply the principles of rotational kinematics to new situations. This served as a measure of immediate learning for the study.
  • Homework as long-term retention and transfer items: After training, students completed their regular homework problems using Andes. Students could do them whenever they want, but most normally complete them just before the exam. The homework problems were divided based on similarity to the training problems. Homework for both similar (near transfer) and dissimilar (far transfer) problems will be analyzed.
  • Accelerated future learning: The training was on Rotational kinematics, and it was followed in the course by a unit on Rotational Dynamics. Andes log files from this homework will be analyzed as a measure of acceleration of future learning.

1. University level: Talk to Cathy and Sussie at Research support

    • Set up application with Cathy (give her a copy of the call)
    • Set up preliminary budget with sussie
    • Set up preliminary IRB for Grant with Sussie

2. MSC level: Hernandez contact person

    • fill out research application form
    • get letter (transfer to PDF format) of support from schools for Appendix A

3. ALEX corp

    • get letter of support (transfer to PDF format) for appendix A

Results

Preliminary analyses have been conducted on immediate learning (MC pretest/posttest, Andes problem solving) and long-term retention measures. An analysis of the data has yielded significant learning gains between pretest to posttest, F (1, 65) = 14.99, p <.001 with a proportional M =.56 and M = .66 respectively. No differences between groups were found for immediate learning. However, data from Andes problem solving while completing homework (long-term retention measure, medium transfer) have showed significant differences among groups, F (1, 60) = 3.47, p <.05 in which the collaboratively observing tutoring (M = .88) pairs performed significantly better than the collaboratively observing worked examples condition (M = .75) and the individually observing worked examples condition(M = .73).


Table. “Means and standard deviations for long term retention measure of Andes problem solving”.

Condition M SD
Collaboratively Observing Tutoring .88 .136
Collaboratively Observing worked example .75 .258
Individually Observing worked example .73 .175


Explanation

This study is part of the Interactive Communication cluster, and its hypothesis is a specialization of the IC cluster’s central hypothesis. The IC cluster’s hypothesis is that robust learning occurs when two conditions are met. Specific explanations for the current study follow.

  • The learning event space should have paths that are mostly learning-by-doing along with alternative paths where a second agent does most of the work. In this study, the collaboration conditions could comprise the learning-by-doing paths where learners can work together to complete the Andes problems or the paired learners could rely on the video as their information providing agent and simply copy the steps. Alternatively the participants in the solo condition would have to rely exclusively on the video for information and thus rely on more direct copying of steps thus allowing another agent (the video) to do most of the work. In this case, both learning conditions offer the alternate copying path. However, copying could differ in frequency and be more likely to be discouraged in the collaborative condition due to the more social nature of the task.
  • The student takes the learning-by-doing path unless it becomes too difficult. This study attempts to control the student’s path choice by presenting them with the tutorial dialogue that could encourage communication or an expert worked example that gives a walk through of the problem without the dialogue interaction. So, in the conditions where students are more likely to take the learning-by-doing path (the tutoring dialogue conditions), they are more likely to learn more, as compared to the conditions where they are more likely to take an alternative path (in the expert worked example conditions).

Annotated bibliography

  • Craig, S., Vanlehn, K., Gadgil, S., & Chi, M. (2007). Learning from Collaboratively Observing during problem solving with videos. AIED07: 13th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education, Los Angeles, CA. [1]

References

  • Chi, M. T. H., Hausmann, R. G. M., & Roy, M. (in press). Learning from observing tutoring collaboratively: Insights about tutoring effectiveness from vicarious learning. Cognitive Science.
  • Craig, S. D., Driscoll, D., & Gholson, B. (2004). Constructing knowledge from dialog in an intelligent tutoring system: Interactive learning, vicarious learning, and pedagogical agents. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 13, 163-183. [2]
  • Gholson, B. & Craig, S. D. (2006). Promoting constructive activities that support vicarious learning during computer-based instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 18, 119-139. [3]
  • Klahr, D. & Nigam, M. (2004). The equivalence of learning paths in early science instruction: Effects of direct instruction and discovery learning. Psychological Science, 15, 661-667.

Connections

This project shares features with the following research projects:

Collaboration during learning

Worked examples and learning

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